North Face Summit Series

I’ve had a summit series jacket for the last 7 years. It’s super warm and super durable. Haven’t bought anything from them since due to the durability of their product.

Inside Track wrote:

It's on the thinner side. No fleece "insulation" but it does have kinda fleecy feeling interior, no pile just a brushed knit texture . Basically feels way better than a GTX jacket against your skin.

I'll have to check it out.  I absolutely love my nano air hoodie but once the wind picks up you lose heat a little too quickly.

Just put a Houdini over your Nano. 4oz, packs to nothing. 

BITD TNF gear was high on the list of gear to own. I still own several jackets, bibs, and fleece but have not bought anything in over 15 years except for some gloves that were on sale at the end of season. I used a friend's early Summit Series down jacket on Denali. It worked well enough but now own a FF jacket now.  The biggest problem with all of the major outdoor clothing mfg is that they are selling a look and for many a vicarious feeling. If one waits, you will find it on sale at some point. At that point it is a descent deal.

F loyd wrote: Summit L6 Down Belay Parka → 800 fill goose down
I have a coat of theirs, its ok. I don't think it's an elite product.

How much does one fill weigh?

Inside Track wrote:

It's on the thinner side. No fleece "insulation" but it does have kinda fleecy feeling interior, no pile just a brushed knit texture . Basically feels way better than a GTX jacket against your skin.

Any thoughts on the L6 parkas?

I currently own a ventrix jacket that replaced my worn out nano air.   I would have bought another nano air but Patagonia, true to form, changed the cut and it didn't fit right anymore (holy crap Patagonia.... Figure your line out and actually stick with it awhile.....).   Overall I like the ventrix slightly less than my old nano air, mostly because the material felt nicer.   That said actual performance is equal and it has held up fine through heavy rock climbing, Denali, and ice climbing.  It is not even the summit model.

I also have a pair of summit series g3?  That I bought for ice climbing.  So far I am happy with them.  If they last a full season I will give them my stamp of approval.  

The stuff I have handled and used seems legit and I am overall impressed with the line.  None of it is earth shattering, but it doesn't suck either.  If you can get a decent price (aka sale) on something and you like it.... I say go for it. It does seemed designed for real use.

I own their Summit Series hooded down jacket, bought it years ago before i knew what summit series was but seemed like a really nice jacket and was 50% off. Its super warm (800fill) and very light weight, generally too warm when im active, but serves as a nice belay parka. Because it packs down so well and is super warm its always in my pack as an Oh-Shit piece for cold weather jaunts. I ripped the sleeve on a sharp stick and have since duct taped it shut. I cant tell if it ripped because its delicate material or if any material would have ripped anyway. The two things i really wish it had are chest pocket and a face shammy, but overall its a great jacket besides that. 

I have their Assault tent (or whatever their 4season lightweight tent it). Used it once so far and it works great. I paid 50% of retail and that is what took me away from the Rab Latok or MsR version of Ueli’s tent.

That being said I think TNF, MHW, Patagonia, Eddie Bauer first ascent line are all in the same category these days and cater to the weekend warrior. They all have some high dollar stand out pieces but the market has changed a lot and the big names are chasing the money.

I hated TNF products 9 years ago and a few purchases over the past 3 years have changed my mind (Patagonia and Eddie Bauer I feel has dropped and TNF/MHW have sort of came back closer to their level.

Their sleeping bags I had were well worth their price points.

I recently got the L4 softshell pants and have been really happy with them. They fit me great and are well designed. A great alternative to the more expensive Gamma MX pants in my opinion.

Also very happy with my inferno -20 sleeping bag.

The belay mitts are great too. 

I've got a men's L3 Ventrix Hoodie, medium, blue and an L4 WS softshell medium yellow.
New never worn. PM me if interested. 

I took a seasonal job with TNF last winter during the holidays and took advantage of it by buying a bunch of the Summit Series stuff. Belay parka, L3 down jacket, hard shell overalls, down mitts, -20° Inferno sleeping bag. While there’s probably lighter options out there for each of the above, I’ve been happy with everything so far. It didn’t hurt either that I got everything 50-60% off though..

Might be worth mentioning that TNF recently had a big event in Zermatt to launch a line called "Future Light", although it seems little is released publicly yet (I've just heard about it on podcasts and other social media).

I have a summit series 900 fill down jacket that I really like that's still going strong after about 10 years. I've also had good luck with their customer service. I broke the one way zipper that the jacket came with and ended up sending it back to them for repair. I can't remember how long the repair took, but they sent it back to me with a nice two way zipper.

Beean wrote:

How much does one fill weigh?

.33975 grams... 

It is supposedly 271.8g fill weight..
Edit:
But the UK site says it has 100g of thermolite in just the puffy chest area so idk...

SS works for me!

Max Rausch wrote: Can't say enough good things about the Ventrix. Most comfortable climbing jacket I’ve ever owned.

Absolutely agree!

I have the 2017 Summit Series Ventrix L3, as well as the Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody 2017, and the Ventrix is so much better in terms of fit (more room in chest, shoulders and arms of same size), helmet compatible adjustable hoody, and abrasion resistant arms and shoulders. Both seem similar in terms of breathability when highly active, with the Ventrix being a bit warmer when relaxing.

Plus got it on sale I think for 50% or 55% off :-)

I regret getting the Nano-Air, now that I've used them both on climbs. However, I must admit Nano-Air does have good dual chest pockets (which the 2018 Summit Series Ventrix L3 has now added)

TNF Summit Series Ventrix L3 highly recommended!!!

GearGuy 316 wrote:

Absolutely agree!

I have the 2017 Summit Series Ventrix L3, as well as the Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody 2017, and the Ventrix is so much better in terms of fit (more room in chest, shoulders and arms of same size), helmet compatible adjustable hoody, and abrasion resistant arms and shoulders. Both seem similar in terms of breathability when highly active, with the Ventrix being a bit warmer when relaxing.

Plus got it on sale I think for 50% or 55% off :-)

I regret getting the Nano-Air, now that I've used them both on climbs. However, I must admit Nano-Air does have good dual chest pockets (which the 2018 Summit Series Ventrix L3 has now added)

TNF Summit Series Ventrix L3 highly recommended!!!

Hmm starting to think about ditching my nano air for a summit ventrix now, mine is tight right in the areas you mention. Guess you and me both bench press to work antagonists.

What's the deal with the "hybrid" version?

The most recent version of the nano air is cut poorly imo.  I have a pretty standard body type and it fits me like crap.  Pretty much why I bought a ventrix.  I love Patagonia but they drive me nuts with their ADD.  

Nick B wrote: The most recent version of the nano air is cut poorly imo.  I have a pretty standard body type and it fits me like crap.  Pretty much why I bought a ventrix.  I love Patagonia but they drive me nuts with their ADD.  

What's wrong with the cut?